Aces High: An Avengers Fanfiction Pairings: Tony/Loki, Clint/Natasha/Bruce, Phil/Steve, implied Thor/Jane It had been so long since the

last time they had Poker Night. It used to be an Avengers tradition- every Thursday night, right after watching the entire NBC comedy block. Theyd sit down at the massive table in the kitchen, and theyd play. Sometimes it was seven-card stud, sometimes it was five-card draw, but there was one game they could all agree on: Texas Hold Em, or, to be more specific, strip Texas Hold Em. But their favorite game had fallen to the wayside lately- theyd been just a tad busy, yknow, saving the world and all that. It seemed that all of Earths most ruthless villains came out in the summer. Maybe it was the heat. Either way, it had been about a month since their last game, and the Avengers were raring to play. They seated themselves in the usual order- Steve and Clint seated at opposite ends of the table, with Natasha, Pepper, Tony, Thor, Bruce, Agent Coulson and Nick settled in between them. Tonight was just a little different, though- Thor had insisted that his brother Loki come play with them. That way, Thor could keep an eye on him, and Loki, whod always felt left out of the cool stuff, got to play a game steeped in deception and trickery- skills Loki always seemed to excel at. Naturally, some of the other Avengers were wary of their most persistent mortal enemys presence in their HQ; sitting at their table, eating their chips and dip, drinking their Strongbow (it was Clints favorite, for obvious reasons, and everyone else loved the cider as well.) But none of them complained, once Thor turned his puppy-dog eyes on them. Thor had an interesting relationship with Loki, one that nobody really understood fully, but they let it go. Asgardian family dynamics were nobodys area of expertise- not even Bruces great mind could decipher them. So Loki pulled up a chair between Tony and Thor as Steve dealt the cards. Everybody remember the rules? Steve asked. Place your bets, get naked, and at the end? Truths and/or dares! Got that? Yes! they chorused, grinning like teenagers. Then ante up, Avengers!... And company, Steve looked at Loki and smirked. Of course, the ante was the preliminary bet of a shirt- any subsequent articles of clothing were bettors choice. The group ditched their respective shirts and armor quickly, winking at each other and generally being flirtatious. This was a good-looking group- sinewy muscle on the men, and alluring curves (that hinted at the deadly strength that lay beneath them) on the women. After the ante, the group looked expectantly at Steve, eager to get the party started. Alright, here goes nothin! Steve revealed the flop cards- 10 of hearts, 6 of clubs, Jack of hearts. Steve looked around the room- as anticipated, Loki, Tony, Nick and Natasha were absolutely motionless. They gave no indication of how good the flop was. The rest, however, were much easier to read. Pepper and Phil looked slightly unhappy, Bruce and Clint had small

smiles on their faces, and Thor was grinning broadly. Apparently, subtlety was not a trait the demigod possessed. I call, said Natasha. Call, from Tony. I bet my cape or an equivalent garment for those who are capeless, stated Loki, totally deadpan. In a whir of silky black, Lokis cape was laying in the center of the table. His face remained expressionless, but his eyes betrayed him- the emerald green glint seemed to glow just a little brighter. Goddammit, Loki, said Tony, rolling his eyes as he took off his shoes. Loki could be frustrating sometimes. But those eyes- they seemed to draw Tony in every time. And that body. He had to admit, Loki had an impressive physique under that straight-outta-ComiCon- outfit. His body was slimmer than Thors, but it was clear that Loki was built for speed and stealth. Not unlike Tonys own Iron Man suit. Yeah, hes cute alright, Tony thought. Really cute. I wonder what focus, Stark! Hes purposely trying to distract you! This was the genius in Tonys genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropist brain talking. Though it seemed the playboy part was trying to take over tonight. Check, said Nick gruffly, snapping Tony back to reality. Nick removed his leather coat, meeting Steves eyes and making him blush. I check! boomed Thor, still grinning like a Cheshire cat. Thor made a grand show of rippling his cape like a matadors, yelling Toro! and laughing as it landed in the middle of the table. I fold, stated Pepper, a bit dejectedly. She was usually much better at this. Ahh well. Ill get em next time, she thought. Ditto, from Phil, laying his cards down. Check! from both Bruce and Clint. And I check as well, said Steve proudly, shirking his shoes. 3,2,1 turn! He laid down the fourth card- a 9 of hearts. Not bad. At least, not bad for some people. I bet my pants! exclaimed Natasha. She shimmied out of her black jeans, revealing a pair of red lace boyshorts that perfectly matched her bra. She smiled, knowing that she was arguably the best-looking one in the room. Little excited there, arentcha, Tasha? Clint teased. Actually, Im just as excited as she is, he thought. She looks amazing. Recently, hed started developing feelings for Natasha, and it wasnt just when she was in her cat suit, though that was certainly a nice view. She was smart,

she was tough, and she was sexy as hell. He wanted her like crazy. Hed been noticing an increase in her flirtations, and he was hoping to take their relationship to the next level soon. Maybe this was the perfect time to do so. Ay, Earth to Hawk, come in, Hawk! Pepper flicked Clints head. Coming out of his reverie, Clint blushed and said, I check. Clint followed Natashas lead, scuttling out of his jeans and placing them on the ever-growing pile in the tables center. I fold, said Bruce, leaning back in his chair. Regrettably, I must fold, intoned Thor, pouting. Check! said Tony, quick flipping his oh-so-trendy designer trousers onto the pile, showing off his AC/DC boxers. Fold. Steve set his cards down and sipped his beer. Same, said Nick. Check! Loki pushed his hair behind his ears and gave the group one of his famous shiteating grins. They should know better than to mess with the God of Mischief! He thought to himself. Loki stood up, sliding out of his pants in the blink of an eye. Magic makes it much easier to disrobe in a timely fashion. Ill say, thought Tony. Hes even hotter when his pants are off. He was surprised to see Loki sporting black Spandex boxer-briefs. They have Spandex in Asgard? Tony asked, incredulously. Nay. My brother went shopping and picked me up a couple pairs. I have them in green too- they match my eyes. Perhaps I will show you them sometime. Loki winked at Tony and sat back down. Well wasnt THAT interesting. Tony smirked back at Loki. And now for the final card- the river of dreams! With a flourish, Steve flipped the carda 6 of spades. All who were still in looked at their cards and made their final decisions for the reveal. Bring em out, kiddos! Tony laid his cards on the table. He had three-of-a-kind: all Jacks. Awww, you beat me! Clint revealed his cards: a pair of 9s and a pair of 10s.

Natasha let out a devious laugh. But Ive got both of you beat! She showed her hand- a straight, using the 10 and 9 of hearts and 6 of clubs from the community, and her own 8 of clubs and 7 of diamonds. Ehehehehe. The three heroes turned to the source of the odd laughing noise. It was Loki, smiling down at his cards in triumph. He had the winning hand- a flush, all hearts. It appears that I have bested you all, despite your valiant efforts. Mere mortals must learn to never tangle with Asgardians! Loki stood up, again exposing his enviable body. I wouldnt mind getting all tangled up in that Asgardian, thought Tony naughtily. Natasha caught Tony staring, and cleared her throat. Lets get a little more comfortable in the living room, shall we? The group relocated to the living room, with half of the Avengers (and Loki) on one couch, and the other half on another couch. Phil and Pepper were on the loveseat, and Nick was perched on an ottoman. Alright, now for the fun stuff! Truth or dare! Lets go in fold order- Pepper, youre up first. Truth or Dare? The two redheads looked at each other for a moment. Pepper spoke. Truth. Natasha looked disappointed. Well, we can still have fun with that. Pepper, when you and Tony were dating, what was your favorite sex position? Pepper flushed. Oh jeez, Natasha, right for the jugular. Hmmm. Id have to say my absolute favorite was on the desk in his lab. Id just sit right up there, and well, you know She trailed off, obviously remembering the numerous times she and Tony had made love on that desk. She laughed and shook her head, clearing it of the memory. Alright, Natasha, next victim! Natasha pointed around the room, settling on Phil. Agent! Truth or Dare? Phil looked at her, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Dare. There was a chorus of oohs and chatter amongst the group as each player tried to concoct the best dare for their favorite SHIELD agent. Nick cleared his throat. Ive got one. Everyone stopped and looked at the SHIELD leader. Phil, you have to jump into Steves arms and kiss him. Phils eyes went wide. But but hes Captain America! I cant kiss Cap! Phil looked conflicted. Nick smiled. Aww cmon, Phil. You were his biggest fan back in the day, if I recall correctly. Get it, fanboy!

Phil swallowed. He turned to Steve, his childhood hero, the super-soldier, standing up, with arms open. And he did as he was told. He hopped into Steves waiting arms and kissed him, chortling as he did so. Surprisingly, Steve kissed him back. His lips are much softer than I thought theyd be, Steve thought. The kiss wasnt particularly sexual, but it fit the situation just right. Phil pulled away from Steves face, and the two gazed at each other for a moment. So, whens the wedding? Tony asked with a smirk. That broke the tension in the room, and the group started talking to each other once again. Natasha set her sights on Bruce. Bruce, darling! Truth or Dare? Bruce thought it over for a few seconds, and answered, Truth. I got this one, guys. Tony directed his attention to Bruce. Alright, mean green machine. Obviously Clint and Tasha have got something going, but it seems you have affections for the Widow as well. How do you plan on solving that? Bruce rolled his eyes. Nice try, Stark. Actually, Natasha and I have discussed the aforementioned attraction, which happens to be mutual. But were looking for a third variable in the equation, and weve both got our eyes on Clint. So, if Clint wants to take a walk on the wild side, well, well just have to see how this night goes, wont we? The scientist looked at Clint. Clints face seemed to flicker through various emotions, finally deciding on a look of joy mixed with just a hint of lust. Youve got yourself a deal, Bruce. Clint sauntered over to Bruce and Natasha and put his arms around them. The amount of eye-sex that went on between the three of them was criminal. Er guys, well catch you later. Weve got some, uh, stuff to take care of. Clint said, looking at the floor. The group watched them walk out, knowing at least somebody was getting laid tonight. I guess that makes me the new Master of Ceremonies now! Tony volunteered. Thor, youre next. Truth or Dare? Dare! The demigod responded almost immediately. These dares are great fun- tell me, who will I be kissing? Oh no. Nope. Thor, Ive got something special for you. Tony grinned deviously. Call Jane. And talk dirty to her. Thor stared at Tony, the color draining out of his cheeks. But but with all of you listening? The others snorted, doubled over with laughter. YES, with us listening! Loki wheezed.

A dares a dare, Thor, Nick said, choking back another round of laughter. Thor took a deep breath. Okay. I will call my beloved and talk dirty to her. For how long? Tony handed Thor the phone. Two minutes. Shell be on speaker. And you cant tell her this is a dare! Thor took the phone and dialed Janes number, and pressed the speakerphone button. Hello? Jane answered. Jane, Thor started. I would like to have a dirty talk with you. I have never done this before, but you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and I would like to share my thoughts with you. O-okay, Jane sputtered, obviously shocked. Uh, shoot. I am not bound by human laws, I am a god amongst men. But when you and I engage in copulation, I feel as if I am a mere mortal. Though the impressive length and satisfying girth of my glorious Asgardian cock would say otherwise to which the remaining Avengers burst out laughingyou are an enchantress. You have me under your spell of seduction, and I am becoming aware of my lust as we speak. At this point, Tony grabbed the phone, quickly saying, Bye, Jane! and hanging up before collapsing on the floor in a crazy bout of laughter. Worst. Phone sex. Ever! Tony looked at the others, still trying to catch his breath. Fury, my man! Youre next! Tony pointed at Nick. Nick only shook his head. Hell no. I am your superior. Under SHIELD directive, I cannot engage in any of these activities with the Avengers. No kissing, no phone sex, and Im not giving any of yall a lap dance! Nick silenced Tony, whose open mouth and subsequent pout suggested that that was exactly what he was going to say. I gotta go anyway- s past my bedtime. Im out! Nick waved goodbye to the group, smiling as he walked out. Okay, lets regroup. Weve got only one guy left who hasnt been a part of his own truth/dare or anyone elses. Loki Truth or Dare? This is gonna be good, thought Tony. I would have to say Truth, for the irony of me- the one with the silver tongu- choosing Truth is too delicious to forgo. Loki flashed another shit-eating grin and waited for his question. This time, it was Phil who came through with the question. Now, Ive been reading up on all this Norse god business, and from what Ive read, it seems you Asgardians dont really subscribe to the idea of a binary gender distinction. In fact, it seems that you, as a god, have the ability to bear children, giving you a distinctly female trait, which is interesting, to say the least . So. Whats the weirdest thing youve ever given birth to? The others merely stared at Phil, wondering if he was serious or not. After a few seconds, it seemed Phil was not, in fact, joking. Loki sighed, and said, very quietly, I birthed an eight-

legged horse once. Dont ask how I got pregnant with it. The hooves hurt when the foal started kicking. He sat, staring at the others in the room. They stared back. Eventually, Pepper cleared her throat and broke the silence. Well, this calls for a drink. Multiple drinks, if at all possible. The others nodded in agreement, with Loki looking particularly sheepish. Pepper crossed the kitchen and opened the liquor cabinet, bringing back a bottle of Don Julio tequila. Who wants to take shots with me? Everybodys hand went up. Pepper went back to get enough shot glasses, and proceeded to pour everyone a shot. They raised their glasses to their lips. On three, she said, One, two THREE! Everyone tossed back their shots, savoring the distinct flavor of premium tequila. Thor was the first to respond, I like this tequila! Another! The others shrugged, as if to say, when in Rome, and each took another shot. The drinking continued in this fashion for about an hour, and everyone involved ended up happily intoxicated. Phil and Steve were in a corner of the room, murmuring and leaning on each other. It wouldnt be long before the two walked upstairs, holding hands and giving each other bedroom eyes. Thor, although a powerful demigod, was no match for tequila, and quickly started nodding off on the couch, with Pepper curling up next to him, also fading into unconsciousness. During all this, Loki and Tony sat at the table, now drinking margaritas, slowly but deliberately. Tony, having built up a tolerance to tequila long ago, was comfortably drunk- certainly not sloppy, but loose, relaxed and ready to flirt. Loki, interestingly enough, was in a similar stateit seemed he had a much easier time handling tequila than his brother did. Whatever Asgardian laws of physiology applied here, Tony was grateful for them- he had Loki all to himself now. Crazy night, huh? Tony said to Loki, placing his hand on Lokis chest. Yes. It has been rather unpredictable. Loki turned and winked at Tony. Loki, if I didnt know better, I would have sworn you were just flirting with me. Tony ran his hand down Lokis chest, stopping at his hipbones. He scooted closer to Loki. You obviously do not know better, then, because I am most certainly flirting with you, Tony Stark. Loki took Tonys hand and they both stood up. I have been waiting to get you alone all night. And with that, Loki leaned in and kissed Tony. First the kiss was soft, tentative, questioning. But as Tony shifted his body to press against Loki, he kissed back, deepening and intensifying the kiss. It was a clash of tongues and teeth and tequila breath, and Tony couldnt remember the last time hed been this turned on. They continued kissing this way until Loki pulled away, running his fingers through Tonys hair. Do you want to take this upstairs, where we can have a little more privacy? Lokis long eyelashes fluttered, making Tonys heart skip a beat. Id love to, but what about-? Tony gestured toward Thors snoozing frame. Loki put a finger on Tonys lips. Shhh. What my brother does not know will not hurt him. As quietly as they

could, the two tiptoed out of the kitchen and quickly bounded up the stairs to Tonys opulent bedroom. This room, it is amazing. Loki gazed at the thick, plush carpeting, the fine art hung expertly on the walls, and, most enticingly, the enormous bed, dressed with red satin sheets. Come sit with me, Tony motioned to the bed. Loki followed him, sitting on the bed next to Tony. It was not long before they were entwined in each others arms, hands exploring the topography of the others body. Loki shifted so he could lay on top of Tony, sending a trail of kisses from Tonys jawline all the way down his neck. Loki could hear a low, guttural moan escaping from Tonys mouth, and he smiled, knowing just how much pleasure he could bring the man. He moved down to Tonys chest, alternating between gentle kisses and much rougher bites. The dual sensations were driving Tony crazy with arousal. Loki gripped Tonys hipbones and stopped his descent right above Tonys crotch. Tony whined, Loki, please, I want you so badly. Loki smiled, pulled off Tonys boxers and bent his head so he could graze Tonys throbbing erection with his tongue. The pleasure is all mine, Tony, Loki purred against Tonys cock, the vibrations from his vocal cords making Tony shudder involuntarily. Loki opened his mouth and enveloped Tonys cock. Lokis mouth was warm, wet and deliciously rough. Loki began bobbing his head between Tonys thighs in a perfect rhythm- up, suck, down, lick, repeat. The first time Loki took Tony all the way down, Tony was unprepared, and the feeling of his penis hitting the back of Lokis throat was almost too much to handle. Loki seemed to sense this, and immediately backed off. At least, thats what Tony thought. The next second, Lokis mouth was back with a vengeance, deep-throating Tony as if their lives depended on it. Again and again, the hard spot in Lokis throat hit the head of Tonys cock, and finally, with a moan and a canting of his hips, Tony came. His warm, salty semen filled Lokis mouth, and Loki swallowed it hungrily. You taste good, he told Tony, wiping off his mouth with the back of his hand. Thanks. Now, would you like me to return the favor? asked Tony, still trying to catch his breath. Loki nodded, laying back down on the bed so Tony could go to town on him. Tonys approach was much slower, much more teasing than Loki was. Tony tangled his fingers in Lokis hair, relishing the silky feel of the demigods gorgeous black locks. Tony spent more time on Lokis neck, nibbling at the spot where his neck and his shoulder met. Tony pressed his lips there and sucked hard, and Loki knew hed have quite a hickey there in the morning. This made him smile. Its like hes marking me, he thought. Hes making me his. Just then, Tony shifted his head upwards, blowing lightly on Lokis ear. He swirled his tongue around Lokis earlobe, making Loki moan and dig his long nails into Tonys back. Tony placed his hand on Lokis crotch, palming his cock through his underwear. I need to bend you over, Tony, Loki moaned, still scratching at Tonys back.

I think that can be arranged. Tony looked at the demigod, eyes full of lust. Get on all fours, Loki said, moving out from under Tony to switch places. Tony complied, shifting his weight forward, resting his hands on his pillow and spreading his legs a comfortable distance. Loki yanked off his boxers and knelt behind Tony. Im assuming you have the materials necessary for this endeavor? Loki asked, looking pointedly at a drawer in Tonys nightstand. He was not new to this game, and didnt want to hurt Tony in any way. Yeah. Here you go. Tony rummaged around in the drawer, procuring a bottle of warm-oncontact lube. He handed it to Loki, grateful that the man was so thorough. He heard the familiar squish of the bottle, and then felt a slim, slippery finger gently probing at his entrance. Slowly, Loki slid a finger inside Tonys ass. He moved it back and forth, making sure not to scratch him. The sensation felt amazing to Tony. More, Tony whispered. Loki applied more lube and added a second finger. He worked Tonys hole, building up a rhythm that was just the right speed. With his free hand, Loki reached around to lightly caress Tonys balls. Tony exhaled loudly, his muscles tensing around Lokis fingers. Do you think you can handle one more? Loki asked. Tony nodded. Loki once again squeezed out more lube and inserted his third finger. Slowly but surely, Tony was relaxing, and his space was becoming wider. He would soon be ready for Lokis cock soon. Loki kept fingering Tony for a few more minutes, until Tony turned his head to look at Loki. I Im ready. Tony turned back and leaned down, fully exposing himself to Loki. Loki licked his lips and got a palmful of lube, slicking up his impossibly hard cock. He couldnt wait to get inside Tony, but he held back. Humans are fragile, and he didnt want to go too fast for Tony. Inch by inch, he guided his cock into Tonys ass. Loki heard Tonys sharp intake of breath, not one of pain but one of pleasure, of being filled completely and liking it. Loki waited until he was all the way inside Tony, and then he began to thrust. They were small, very gentle thrusts. He wanted to see how much Tony could take comfortably, and Tony was all-too-eager to receive all of him. Tonys moans were loud and throaty, highlighting his urgent need for Lokis cock. Loki was happy to oblige him, beginning to thrust faster and faster into Tonys hole. Loki, Jesus, ahhh, oh my god, you feel fantastic Tony trailed off as Loki hit Tonys prostate for the first time. A ripple of pleasure surged through Tonys body, causing the man to buck forward. Loki held Tonys hips in place, riding out the motion. For the most part, Loki was quiet, occasionally grunting during particularly powerful thrusts. He may have been the silver-tongued god, but he liked to focus on the physical sensations of sex, and besides, Tony was making enough noise for the both of them. Tonys moans soon gave way to alternating between oh god,

Loki! and fuck!. Loki knew they both were going to come soon, and he hoped to get them both off at the same time. For a human, Tony had a surprisingly short refractory period- it had been, what, fifteen minutes since his last orgasm? This pleased Loki, and made his cock twitch in anticipation. A few minutes and a few more fuck, Lokis later, Loki felt the familiar sensation creeping up his legs- the rush of pleasure that he just couldnt hold back anymore. Oh, he breathed, Tony, Im coming, Im going to come for you, oh Im right there with you, Loki, Tony said, turning to look at Loki over his shoulder. With a final thrust and a whimper from Tony, they both climaxed, Lokis semen filling Tonys hole and Tony coming onto the pillow in front of him. Loki stayed inside Tony through their combined aftershocks, and only exited when Tonys body had stopped shaking completely. They collapsed on the bed together, Tony chucking the stained pillow in favor of a less-sticky one. They rested their heads on the new pillow, Loki twining his legs with Tonys and staring into his eyes. That was breathtaking, Loki said. Thank you. Youre very welcome, Loki. You rocked my world tonight, ya know that? Tony smiled dreamily. I had a feeling you would think that, Loki grinned. What do you think the others are up to? Well, Phil and Steve looked pretty content when they went upstairs, but knowing how Steve is such a perfect gentleman-type, they probably watched a movie, snuggled, made out and fell asleep in each others arms, said Tony matter-of-factly. Loki laughed. That sounds about right. What about the Three Musketeers? Tony appeared to be in deep thought. Theyre either in Round 2 of a Crazy Hot Three-Way or theyre asleep because they exhausted themselves with Round 1. Loki nodded. Theyre kind of an odd bunch, but I like the three of them together. I would like to see where that relationship goes. That is, if Thor will let me stay a little longer here on Midgard. Tony looked at him, his expression unreadable. Im hoping you stick around a little longer, too. Do you think we could ever be, I dont know, a thing, as you humans say? Loki asked, only half-joking. I think its a definite possibility, if tonights activities are any indication. Tony winked, and snuggled closer to Loki. I dont know about you, but Im exhausted. I can barely keep my eyes open. Your sex wore me out!

Is that a bad thing? Loki questioned, eyes full of concern. No! Not at all. Its a very good thing, Tony reassured him. Good, said Loki contentedly. To be honest, I am very tired myself. Mind if I sleep over? I wouldnt have it any other way, said Tony, beginning to close his eyes. Goodnight, Tony, Loki murmured as he kissed Tonys forehead. Mmmmm night you handsome god, you, mumbled Tony, already half-asleep. And thats how they stayed until morning, until Loki opened his eyes to sunlight streaming through Tonys big bay windows. He looked at the bedside clock. 8:00. Too early, even for a demigod. He looked down at his shoulder, noting the red-purple hickey. Oh dear,thats quite a hickey, he thought. Im so glad my suit will cover this up. He shifted in Tonys arms, and Tony stirred. Tony opened his eyes, immediately covering them due to the intense sunlight. He spoke first. Well, Im not hungover enough to not remember our magical sex last night, so thats a good sign, but that sunlight is atrocious, which is not a good sign. We Asgardians dont ever get hangovers, even though the other effects of alcohol still occur. Our bodies metabolize it differently than humans bodies do, so we get all the fun with none of the pain in the morning. Loki smiled mischievously. Lucky! Tony bopped Loki with the pillow and rolled over. Im starving. Im feeling some waffles with strawberries. And coffee. Yes. Coffee would be good now. Loki chuckled. Coffee is unappetizing to me. I like orange juice. But I like waffles with strawberries, too. Lets go make some! With far too much energy for the early morning, Loki hopped off the bed, grabbing one of Tonys Black Sabbath t-shirts and his own boxers-briefs and slipping them on. Tony followed suit, albeit a little more slowly, putting on his kimono. They walked downstairs to the kitchen, finding it occupied by none other than Phil and Steve. Steve was in his favorite flannel pajamas, and Phil had borrowed one of Steves t-shirts and his bunny slippers. Both were sipping coffee and eating toast, Steves with jam on both sides and Phils with a more conservative helping of butter. Phil had the Politics section of the Times, and Steve, as usual, was giggling over the comics. You two are too frickin cute, ya know that? Tony grinned. Steve and Phil smiled back. Has anyone seen Pepper or Thor? Loki asked. They woke up briefly, and moved upstairs to continue sleeping. Pepper looked a little green, Phil said.

 Did they are they? Loki trailed off. Steve laughed, knowing exactly what Loki was getting at. No, I dont think so. I think they both just passed out together, and Thor wants to make sure shes okay. Loki breathed a sigh of relief. Thats my brother, always saving some poor damsel. Though I doubt Pepper really needs any help- she put up with this one all these years! He playfully elbowed Tony in the ribs. HEY! Harsh, man. Tony elbowed back. Not to break up the bro-fest over here, but what the hell happened with Natasha and company yesterday? Phil asked. Well, we all saw them head upstairs, but we didnt hear a peep out of them last night, Tony said. Well, Im sure you two were busy making noises of your own, said Phil, eyebrows raised. Tony coughed. Ahem, as I was saying, theyre probably still sleeping. Although Im not sure wholl be more tired- Natasha, from sleeping with the Hulk, or the Hulk, from sleeping with Natasha! Are you crazy? Clint will be passed out from both of them! Steve said as Tony high-fived him. Now, if youll excuse us, we have some waffles to make, said Tony, walking over to the freezer. He pulled out a box of Eggo waffles. Loki, if youll grab the Cool Whip and the strawberries, Ill heat these bad boys up and well be good to go! Tony popped the waffles in the toaster. Loki rummaged in the refrigerator for the breakfast items. No offense, Tony, but youre a billionaire- dont you think you can afford higher-end waffles? Loki asked teasingly. Loki, waffles are no laughing matter. I have scoured the world for the perfect waffle, and nothing beats Eggo. Nothing, Tony said with a mock-serious expression. A minute later, the toaster ping!ed and the waffles were warm and fluffy. Tony grabbed a cup of coffee from the pot that Phil had brewed and Loki raided the fridge once again for the orange juice. He poured himself a glass and sat down at the table. Loki cut up his waffles into little pieces and delicately placed a slice of strawberry on each piece. Tony was less careful, smearing a dollop of Cool Whip on one waffle and arranging his strawberries on the other, and proceeded to smush them together and eat them sandwich-style. After everybody finished their breakfast, they retired to their respective rooms to get ready for the day. Phil mumbled something about having to get a suit from home, so Steve followed him out to the door to walk him out. Tony and Loki jogged up the stairs to give them some privacy.

I actually think those two might get together. As with Natasha and her harem, its not an obvious set-up, but I can see it happening, Loki said. Me too. The Avengers Initiative is just one big, happy, incestuous family, and were totally okay with that. Now, Im in desperate need of a shower. Care to join me? Tony wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. I dont know- getting into a steamy shower with a gorgeous guy who just made me breakfast? Its a tough decision. Loki ruffled Tonys hair. Come on, lets get soapy! Tonys bathroom proved to be just as luxurious as the rest of his bedroom: state-of-the-art appliances, a giant bathtub, and the best part- a glass shower with about twenty different jets jutting out from it. It was built to fit two people, which amused Loki highly. Okay, strip and hop in! Tony said, untying his kimono and letting it fall. Loki followed, stripping off his borrowed t-shirt and boxers. They stepped into the shower and Tony turned three different jets on. The water poured down on them at the absolute perfect temperature. Tony grabbed a bottle of Redken shampoo- the man loved that brand- and began sudsing up his hair. Here, let me do that for you, Loki said as he put his hands on Tonys head. He began massaging in the shampoo, and Tonys entire body immediately relaxed. Mmm, that feels great, Loki, Tony said contentedly. Well, theres a reason Ive got all this pretty hair! Loki laughed, tilting Tonys head to rinse out the shampoo. Your turn! Tony squeezed out some shampoo and washed Lokis hair, marveling at how quickly it became clean and shiny. He stepped back to let Loki rinse the shampoo out. Now for the important stuff: do you condition? Tony asked. Personally, I dont- Ive got oily roots. Loki shook his head. I dont. Ive got the same problem you do! The two laughed, and Tony reached for his loofah and his mango-scented body wash. Loki bit back a smile. Hey! Dont knock it til youve tried it! I know its girly but the loofah works really well on my sensitive skin, and this body wash smells so amazing, I just had to buy it! Tony opened the bottle and began washing his shoulders. Loki grabbed one of the spare washcloths and also began using the body wash. Youre right- this does smell fantastic! The two continued washing, and then rinsed off. As Tony started shutting off the faucets, Loki leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

Tony turned and locked his arms around Lokis neck. You missed! he said, and kissed him for real. Loki returned the kiss passionately. I cannot believe I am making out with an Asgardian demigod in my shower, thought Tony. I cant believe Im making out with THE Tony Stark in his shower, thought Loki. This kiss was not unlike the first: slow, sexy, the two men savoring every lip movement. It was much less tentative, though- Loki felt like hed been kissing Tony for ages. He ran his hands up Tonys sides, resting his hands on his chest, on either side of the arc reactor. It was an amazing feeling, being here with Tony. Despite all their differences, both physical and ideological, they just seemed to fit. That wasnt something Loki felt very often. He pulled away from Tony and smiled. We should get dressed. Tony nodded. As much as I love seeing you naked, weve got to get a move on. It may be a Friday, but the Avengers never have a day off. He stepped out of the shower, pulling two towels off the rack. He and Loki toweled off and walked back to the bedroom, where they both started to get dressed. Loki was just putting on his cape when Tonys phone buzzed. Its from Nick, Tony said as he tapped the answer button. Hello? Stark! Its Fury. Weve got a disturbance in Chinatown. Its Dr. Doom, and hes more of a pain in the ass than usual. We need you at Canal and Mulberry. No problem, Nick. Be there soon. Tony ended the call, and walked briskly across the room to the door that led to his lab. Loki followed him. Im going to be gone awhile. Are you just going to hang out here? Tony asked. Loki shrugged. Actually, I was wondering if I could maybe tag along, see the group dynamics from the perspective of a, yknow, non-world-enslaving-menace, he said sheepishly. Tony raised his eyebrows. Are you really that curious, or are you just trying to collect intel for the next time you fight us? Loki shook his head. To be honest, I just wanted to see what The Avengers were really like. That poker game last night it was the first time in years that I ever really felt like I belonged somewhere. And I dont really want to lose that. Okay, so maybe I wont be Furys newest recruit, but what if I went more the God-of-Mischief route, instead of the Destroy-The-Earth route? Stuff like replacing Mayor Bloombergs toothpaste with shaving cream, instead of, I dont know, poisoning the water supply? Who knows? Maybe Im not cut out to be all that evil. Tony was shocked. Loki, Mr. Kneel-Before-Me, wanted to hang with the Avengers? Every fiber of Tonys being told him this was a bad idea, but Loki had a look of eagerness- hope, even? on his face that Tony just couldnt ignore.

Alright, you can fly out with me. But just this once. Ugh, my team is going to kill me. I just cant say no to that face. Dammit. Tony took a deep breath, pressed a button on a hover console, and waited for his droid DUM-E to assemble his suit. Loki leaned in, kissing Tonys cheek one last time. Thanks, Tony. Loki waited until Tony was fully suited up, and they flew through an open skylight in the labs ceiling. This was going to be one hell of a battle, and Loki couldnt be happier that he was going to see it. Things were beginning to look up for him, and he had Tony to thank for that. Maybe, just maybe, Ive found a kindred spirit, Loki thought. And with that, he snapped back to reality. They had made it to Chinatown, where Dr. Doom was, as promised, wreaking havoc. Time to watch the Avengers in action- and Ive got the best seat in the house! THE END